Archive for the ‘Nutrition/Recipes’ Category
You have got to love the beginning of a new year. It’s a time to reflect on the past year of accomplishments, gains, goals achieved and past successes. I don’t know about you, but 2009 was pretty much a turnaround year for this ol’ bird. Turning around one’s professional and personal life is not an easy job. It takes determination, perseverance, organization, focus and choices. It’s time to put away the toys folks and continue on into 2010 where we find that there is nobody else out there to force us into doing something we don’t want to do. No matter what your obstacles may be, the biggest is the one set in your mind. If you don’t think you can do it, you won’t. It’s as simple as that.
Jay Stanforth
Are you ready? Step one: Calculating how many calories you need to maintain a healthy weight? Again, let me stress, I am NOT a doctor, nor a physical trainer, nor a licensed nutritionist and any and all weight loss programs should be consulted with your general practitioner beforehand. Here is a Web site I found that will take in your gender, age, weight, level of exercise you currently have and will calculate the approximated number of calories you will need to maintain your current weight or if you want to lose those unwanted pounds. Follow this internet address: www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm
Christmas holidays. That time each year when the majority of us indulge to our greatest vices and bad habits. “Who’ll know that I cheated on this hors d’oeuvre? I mean, it’s only one, okay, maybe two, five at the most, I promise and then, tomorrow, I promise, I’ll do an extra 15 minutes on the treadmill. Besides, it’s the holidays, why not splurge?” That’s fine; do not restrict yourself from enjoying the office party, the family gathering or the big open house when friends are gathered together. But know your limits!
Jay Stanforth
Think about it? Most of us are situated in a household with a spouse who also is working. That’s two office parties. Most of us attend a weekly gathering of friends for fellowship (that would be worship) networking (be it in the form of the Rotary, chamber of commerce, Masons or what have you) monthly meetings, team sports (volleyball to your pub dart team) and don’t get me started on the ever-present public school holiday musical productions. Those precious angels! You just know that minutes before they hit the stage, Jack Miller’s little seven-year-old is pestering the bejesus out of Sarah Culver (and, in 10 years, they’ll be going to the prom together, I betcha). So, think about it. With the mandatory obligations we HAVE to attend and the ones we should attend because if we don’t, we might miss something, there’s the possibility of two social parties a week. That’s eight parties for the month of December and not to mention the big one in January (think New Year’s). Okay, so the bottom line is we have a lot of promises to keep this month. Promises to our spouse, our boss, our team, our church, our friends and to ourselves.
OR ‘HOW CAN I AVOID THE CARBOHYDRATE BUFFET THIS SEASON?”
By Jay Stanforth
I love my family, really I do. I don’t know how I would or could have survived all these years without them. From grandparents on down to the nephew and nieces, I adore each and every one of them.
Jay Stanforth
I’m sure my family is much like your own, and so are the holiday gatherings. Each being centered on the four F’s: Food, Fellowship, Friends and Familiarity, the main ingredient being food. Why else is there to drive across town or the state on any given holiday afternoon? Watch football? Heck, you can do that with more peace and quite in your own home. But where else can you get your brother’s famous deviled eggs, Mother’s always-tasty yeast rolls and who can ever forget the green bean casserole cautiously prepared by your sister? Yeah, every holiday we have the staples on the table — they’re expected and, if for some odd reason they’re not, somebody gets annoyed and their day is ruined. So who am I to throw a wrench into the mix? I do my best. Like I said, it’s expected.
By Jay Stanforth
Does being fit over 40 sound almost impossible to you? It did to me. I decided more than 10 years ago to take charge of my life and health. There are many bumps in the road that I’ve encountered and many more ahead, but I believe through proper diet and exercise, you can become a better person inside and out.
Jay Stanforth
I remember back in high school, Coach Conley asked me to come out for the football team. I believe it was my junior year. “Stanforth, we could use someone of your size on the team” were his words. Well, for those who know me and my past, I don’t even run to the bathroom, while the idea of playing any kind of a team-related sports program was completely out the door.
When I first started my program, I had given up on the idea of ever being fit. I started my program as a social outlet. Honestly I did. I thought if I went to the gym, I’d meet more friends and as a side benefit, lose a few pounds. I weighed in at a big 260 pounds. I’ve always considered myself “big boned” as grandma would say as she passed the butter-rich mashed potatoes to me, making sure that the thick chicken gravy was right behind. God, I love food!
